Seattle Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alan Hovhaness.
I - Allegro moderato: 0:00
II - Angel of Light. Largo: 9:55
III - Allegretto grazioso: 13:48
IV - Hymn of Praise. Largo maestoso: 16:28
Hovhaness' Symphony No.22 was composed in 1970 as a commission from the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the centenary of the city. The subtitle "City of Light" refers to an abstract, idealized city: "I was thinking of a million lights, an imaginary city, " said Hovhaness.
The first movement is very free in form. Opens with an expansive introduction, the strings hint the sketches of a theme in form of an hymn. The trombones fully expose said theme full of magnificence. It represents the city of the title, full of light and spirituality. The strings open a more dramatic and passionate section as a form of a simple development, using contrapuntal forms. The trumpet solemnly recapitulates the hymn, leading to a brilliant coda.
The second movement is inspired by a childhood memory Hovhaness had in Christmas, being structured around two alternating themes. Tremolos of the strings lead to a solo of the trombone, presenting a widely lyrical theme, full of a nostalgic feeling. In the middle section, the strings present a smooth christmas melody. The trombone recapitulates the main theme over the soft touches of percussion, followed by the christmas theme, after which the movement concludes calmly.
The third movement is monothematic. Opens with a brief oriental introduction, after which the strings present a gently rhytmic theme with an irish folkloric air, which has roots in Hovhaness' past, this time from his high-school years when he had composed an operetta titled "Lotus Blossom". After a full recapitulation, a pedal note leads the music to a fade-out coda.
The fourth movement, as the first one, is very free. Opens with a solemn and potent hymn on the strings, enhanced by the brass. The music rises towards a brilliant and passionate climax. The composer develops the music using several voices, applying his contrapuntal techniques inspired by J. S. Bach. According to the author it is a timeless music, evocative of light and space, of nature and spirituality. After an intense climax, a fugue is started by the bass strings, slowly rising up. A sudden whirlwind of sounds take us to a brilliant and majestic coda.
Picture: Couldn't find the name, artist nor date. Sorry in advance.
Musical analysis partially written by myself. Source: bit.ly/3zPlN2K